Behrend Volleyball 2007 Season Preview
A
school-record 29 wins. The first postseason wins ever for the volleyball
program. Two tournament championships. Undefeated AMCC regular season. 15
consecutive wins to begin the season. Six all-conference selections. The
list of accomplishments for the 2006 Behrend Lions volleyball team is long
and impressive. The squad capped a fantastic season by advancing to the
ECAC Championship Match at New Jersey City University. However, the one
item that eluded the 2006 team is the thing most coveted by the blue and
white in 2007, an AMCC Conference Tournament Championship.
Last season Behrend rolled through the regular season, carrying a 27-2
record into the AMCC Championship Game, only to fall in the finals in
heartbreaking fashion. The resilient squad showed its toughness the next
week at the ECAC Tournament, bouncing back with two hard-fought wins to
reach the title game.
“This season our total focus will be on building toward the AMCC
Championships. Of course we plan to be very competitive throughout the
year, but the bottom line is we must win that weekend to advance to the NCAA
Tournament,” said head coach Phil Pisano.
Joining Pisano for the fourth season will again be assistant coach Gerry
Vensel. The staff will also grow with two familiar faces. Recent Behrend
graduates and former team captains Karla Murray and Lisa Wagner will help to
guide the current Behrend Lions.
The lone senior in 2007 will be defensive specialist Deanna Ciccarelli
(Pittsburgh/Penn Hills). She has played in 245 games in three seasons with
the blue and white. Ciccarelli will be counted on for consistency in the
backcourt and steady leadership throughout the season. “Deanna has grown
tremendously in three seasons, and has developed into one of the players we
really count on. Her energy and intensity will provide a big boost for our
team,” said Pisano.
Three
juniors return in 2007, led by All-AMCC First Team member Brittany Hennessy
(Hopewell/Hopewell). In two seasons, Hennessy has already passed the 1,000
digs mark, currently ranking seventh on the all-time list. Middle hitter
Jenna Benzenhoefer (Murrysville/Franklin Regional) returns ready to make a
major impact. Her 2006 season ended early due to injury, but Benzenhoefer
is shooting to make her presence felt in a big way this fall. Stephanie
Pence (Youngsville/Youngsville) is the other member of the junior class.
Pence has been biding her time behind others at the outside hitter position
and battled a season-long illness in 2006, but is eager to assert herself in
2007. Pisano said, “Our juniors recognize the importance of the role they
will play as upperclassmen and are ready to meet the challenge.”
The sophomores had a major impact last year in their rookie seasons a year
ago. Brooke Gallentine (Mt. Pleasant/Southmoreland) took over the reigns at
the setting position last fall, and started every match in 2006 on her way
to being named All-AMCC Second Team and the team Rookie of the Year. Sheila
Ogden (Grove City/Grove City) led the team in hitting percentage as a middle
hitter and was named an All-AMCC Honorable Mention. Ogden will now receive
more attention from opponents and will look to be a main force at the net
for Behrend Lions. Outside hitter Carissa Johnston (Cambridge
Springs/Cambridge Springs) was a part-time starter a year ago and showed
flashes of brilliance. Her goal in 2007 will be to perform at a high level
on a consistent basis. Amy Lawrence (New Wilmington/Wilmington) made huge
strides over the past year, earning the team award for Most Improved
Player. She will push for time primarily at the setting position.
The incoming freshman class is a hard-working group eager to prove
themselves at the collegiate level. Jamie Bologna (Leechburg/Leechburg),
Alexandra Fashion (Gibsonia/Hampton), Jenna Kelly (Grove City/Grove City),
Kellie Marett (Volant/Wilmington), Lauren Payer (Venango/Cambridge Springs),
Aubry Regan (Edinboro/General McLane), and Danielle Woods
(Pittsburgh/Baldwin) make up the large group of first-year players. Seven
of the team’s 15 players will be freshmen, so the development of the young
class will be a key to the season.
Overall Pisano has seen a change in the team since the end of last season.
He said, “So far in 2007, our returning upperclassmen have really matured.
We had various players step up and handle the added responsibility that
comes with more playing time during our spring season.” Having lost seven
players from the 2006 team, forging solid team chemistry will be an
important task, and one the team hopes to accomplish early on this season.
The squad also had extra time together when they traveled overseas in May of
2007 for an 11-day trip of northern Italy. “Our team trip to Italy was
wonderful. The players had the opportunity to grow and learn together and I
was so pleased with how they handled themselves on the trip,” Pisano said.
While on the tour, the team played four matches in between exploring Italy
with stops in Florence, Milan, Venice, Verona, Pisa, Siena, and Lake Como.
A challenging schedule awaits the Behrend Lions in 2007, as the blue and
white will have seven matches against teams that had 20 or more wins in
2006. The season begins when Behrend heads to the Marietta Tournament on
August 31. The squad returns home the following weekend for the annual
Behrend Invitational on September 7 and 8.
Pisano said, “Our young team combined with a strong schedule will really
challenge our progress all season. I’m confident that we will meet the
challenge and continue to build on what we have accomplished the past few
seasons. We aren’t going to shy away from talking about our goal, which is
to once again capture the AMCC Championship.”